Men aged 25-29 years recorded the highest average daily intake of food and beverages (almost 4.4 kilograms), while the highest average intake for women was 3.4 kilograms for those aged 45-49 years, according to a report released jointly today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

This final report from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey, a project jointly funded by the ABS and the Commonwealth and State health agencies, provides detailed information on the consumption of food and beverages of Australians aged two years or more, based on intake during the day before interview.

Some findings of the report are:

Over 90% of Australians consumed milk products and dishes, with the intake of dairy milk (227 grams) accounting for approximately 70% of the average intake of milk products and dishes.

Mineral waters and water (mainly plain drinking water) were consumed by 80% of Australians and contributed at least 40% to the mean intake of non-alcoholic beverages (excluding milk) of 1.8 kilograms.

Australians were more likely to have consumed regular breads and rolls (81%) than any other type of cereal product. Regular breads and rolls contributed approximately 40% of the total daily intake of cereals and cereal products.

The proportion who ate vegetables on the day before interview generally increased from 74% of 2-3 year olds to 92% of those aged 65 years and over.

The proportion of Australians who consumed fruits decreased from 77% of 2-3 yearold children, to 37% of 19-24 year olds increasing again with age. Females aged 12 years and over had a higher average intake of fruit products and dishes than males in the same age group. This was the reverse of the pattern for all other major food groups.

Approximately 80% of Australians consumed meat, poultry and game compared to only 17% who consumed fish and seafood products and dishes on the day before interview.

Adult men (42%) were more likely than women (24%) to have consumed alcoholic beverages on the day before interview. However, men were more likely to drink beer and women more likely to drink wine, than other alcoholic beverages.

Details are in National Nutrition Survey: Foods Eaten, Australia 1995 (cat. no. 4804.0), available from ABS bookshops. A summary of the publication may be found on this site.

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